Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Tarzan the Ape Man

Tarzan the Ape Man

Seen it?

1932 | 100 min | Adventure

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for adventure fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Exciting.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1932: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

James Parker and Harry Holt are on an expedition in Africa in search of the elephant burial grounds that will provide enough ivory to make them rich. Parker's beautiful daughter Jane arrives unexpectedly to join them. Jane is terrified when Tarzan and his ape friends abduct her, but when she returns to her father's expedition she has second thoughts about leaving Tarzan.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.6 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $3 million worldwide on a $653K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 60K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by W.S. Van Dyke

  • Johnny WeissmüllerTarzan
  • Maureen O'SullivanJane Parker
  • Neil HamiltonHarry Holt
  • C. Aubrey SmithJames Parker
  • Doris LloydMrs. Cutten
  • Forrester HarveyBeamish
  • Ray CorriganApe (uncredited)
  • Ivory WilliamsRiano
  • Johnny EckBird Creature (uncredited)